Remotely controlled dictationsystem



Sept, 7, 1943. H. P. CLAUSEN REMOTELY CONTROLLED DICTATION SYSTEM Filed June 18, 1942 an is:

5 Q a 3 3 EEEEWEG INVENTOR. 'g P Clause)? BY his AHqu.

Patented Sept. 7, 1943 "swarm inc'rn'rron 26 Claims.

Thi invention relates to improvements in sound recording apparatus, remotely situated with respect to the source of sound, and controllable at least in part from the point of sound origination The general object of this invention is the provision of a sound recording system in which mechanism for making a permanent sound record is situated at a central station under the supervision. of a central station operator, but which is connected to one or a plurality of remote dictation stations from which the dictator may signal the supervising operator and controlthe record- 7 ing machine in so far as it i necessary to start and stop it and to make correction marks and finish marks on the record.

A more specific object of the inventionis the provision of a secondary sound recording machine which makes a temporar record of successive ortions of the sound being recorded, simultaneously with its recordation on the main recording machine, and from which temporary record immediately succeeding portions of the matter recorded on the main record may be repeated back to the dictators station.

A still more specific object of this invention is the provision of an automatically operating cone trol system, actuation of which is initiated from the dictation point, for stopping the main recording machine at any time, and immediately reproducing from the temporary record the immediately preceding recorded matter.

A more detailed object of the invention i the provision of automatically operating means for recording on the temporary record an indication each time the main recording machine is stopped, so that the dictator after hearing the playback from the temporary 'recordehears the recorded indication apprising him of the fact that the immediately preceding portion, being repeated has been completed, so that he may again start the main machine and proceed with his dictation.

A further detailed object of this invention is to provide novel forms of marking indications on the permanent record, one of which visibly indicates by the separation between complete bits of dictation and the other of which is of a nature and is employed to provide several different methods of applying correction indications wherein the transcriber is apprised in advance of the point of correction so that she may ascertain the nature of 'the correction before proceeding so far as to require retypirig.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of this type which has but two controls to be consciously operated from the dictator station, one or which signals the supervising operator at the central station of the need for a machine, which serves to make correction marks on the record andwhich also serves to make finish indications on the record, and an-' other control by the successive opera-lion of which the main recordingmachine may be started and stopped.

Other and more specific objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, as will be described in detail below, 7 y

In the accompanyin rawing,

Figure 1 is a schematic and diagrammatic layout of a system in accordance with the objects of this invention; and I Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the correction marking means for applying correction indication marks to the permanent record.

The exact nature of the invention, and the objects attained thereby, will be more completely and accurately understood from a detailed description of the system in accordance with this invention, followed by a detailed description of its operation.

No further general reference to the subject matter or its objects will therefore be recited.

The dictators station is provided with a hand set I which, as is well known, comprises a microphone and a receiver united by a suitable hand grip structure. Thishand set is adapted normally to be supported upon a hook or the like 2, which forms part of a switch 3 which is open when supporting the hand set. When the hand set is removed switch 3 closes, completing a circuit through a pair of conductors 4 and. 5 to the primary of a repeating transformer 5. The circuit wires 4 and 5 are bridged by an inductive choke coil I which does not act as a short circuit for the electrical currents of the frequencies to be transmitted during recording.

The midpoint of the winding from the choke coil 1 is connected as shown, by a wireto one terminal each of a pair of normally open push button switches 8 and I2; These switches may be of any suitable construction and may even be incorporated in the hand set if desired. A fixed contact of switch 8 is connected through the primary of a suitable transformer 9, such as an ordinary volt bell ringing transformer, and a blocking condenser II to ground at IS. The fixed contact of switch I2 is grounded at l3, as shown. The primary of the transformer 3 is connected to a suitable alternating current source III which may be the ordinary 60 cycle lighting circuit.

The electrical midpoint; of the primary of transformer 6 is connected by a wire H which includes a condenser |5 to an'altemating current relay |6, the other terminal of whose winding is grounded through a source of energizing current.

The capacity of the condenser I5 is selected so as to pass an alternating operating current for the relay l6 and block direct currents. Wire I4 is also connected in series with an inductive choke coil 34, with a direct current relay 33, the other The other terminals of the winding of relay 2|) and of the signal lamp 22 are connected by a common lead to ground through a suitable current source 2 The locking relay includes a pair of switches 23 and 11. The movable contact of switch 23 is connected to wire ls and the fixed contact is connected by wire 24 to ground through a switch 25 which is normally closed when the apparatus is not recording. Another and grounded movable contact in switch l8 cooperates with a fixed contact to complete the circuit to a relay 26, likewise connected to a suitable grounded current source. As diagrammatically illustrated, the relay 26 includes the normally open switch 21 which completes circuits in an obvious manner to the amplifier and the operating mechanism for the permanent and temporary recording machines, as will be apparent from the whole disclosure.

The first mentioned movable contact of switch l8 cooperates with a second fixed contact which is connected by wire 28 to a switch 29 closed when the machine is not recording, to a spacing or marking relay 30, the other terminal of which is connected to a suitable grounded current source. Relay 30 operates a pivotally mounted arm 3| on the 'upper end of which is pivotally mounted a latch or pawl 32, the function of which I will be described later.

Direct current relay 33 includes a switch 35 the movable contact of which is grounded and the fixed contact of which is connected by wire 36 to 'alever 31 which is pivotally supported at 38 and has on its other end an idler pressure roller 4|. When lever 31 is in its raised-position, as shown in the drawing, it engages a fixed contact 39 which is connected by wire to a magnet 40 positioned when energized to pull the lever 31 downwardly into its other position where it remains until actuated back to the position shown, as will be described in further detail later.

The main sound recording machine may take various forms but inv accordance with the diagrammatic illustration here it is of the type disclosed in full and complete detail in United States Patent No. 2,296,870 granted September 29, 1942. As disclosed in that patent, and diagrammati-. cally illustrated here, the sound record 43 is a thin flexible disc of suitable material, such as cellulose acetate, although of course a rigid type of wax record could be used. The record 43 is mounted upon and keyed to, for rotation therewith, a vertical shaft 44 which is journalled in a carriage 45 mounted in any suitable manner for rectilinear movement radially with respect to shaft 44. On the shaft 44 is a threaded gear or worm which meshes with the threaded shaft 46 rotatably mounted in the carriage 45 so as to be incapable of axial movement with respect thereto. A fixed hali'nut 41 is positioned so as to engage the threads of shaft 46 so that when that shaft rotates it is caused to move axially, carrying the carriage 45 with it. At this point it may be noted, as disclosed in the above'patent, that the 'halfnut 41 is pivotally mounted so that it may be swung into and out of engagement with the threaded shaft 46.

Referring again to the pivoted armature 3| it will be seen that the pawl 32 is shaped so that the shaft and causes it to shift toward the left in an axial direction during the final movement of the armature. The cooperation between the shaped end of the nut 41 and the adjacent portion of the pawl 32 causes the pawl to pivot and swing into engagement with the threads of shaft 46 at about the time the nut is caused to disengage the threads of the shaft. Upon return movement of armature 3| the parts may drop back to the position shown in the drawing.

A power driven friction drive wheel 42 is positioned to engage the under surface of the record 43 opposite the point of engagement of the pressure idler roller 4| on the end of the lever 31. When the system is in operation a motor, not shown, causes continuous rotation of the drive wheel 42. This motor may be energized through switch 21 of relay 26.

Switches 25 and 29, previously mentioned, and switches 52, 55 and 69, each have a movable contact and are mounted so as to be insulated from each other on a common actuating member 49, which is pivotally-connected at 50 to the lever 31 so that when the lever 31 is operated downwardly these switches are also operated, as will input terminal of an amplifier 53, the other terminal of. which is grounded. One output terminal of the amplifier is grounded and the other output terminal is connected by wire 54 to the movable contact of switch 55. The fixed contact is connected by wire 51 to wire 5|. The other fixed contact of switch 55 is connected by a wire, as shown, to one terminal of the recording head 56, the other terminal of which is grounded.

This recording head is of any suitable type, such as the electromagnetic type or the piezoelectric crystal type, and is provided with a stylus, as shown, for cutting, embossing, impressing or otherwise making a record on the record disc 43. A fixed contact of switch 29 is connected by wire 58 to one terminal of the correction marking magnet 59, the other terminalof which is connected to a suitable grounded current source.

At 60 is diagrammatically illustrated the magnetic wire or tape type of sound recording device in one form of which, as illustrated, an endless of clarity, the lever 31 is shown inthe drawing tail.

asaaicv magnetizable tape or wire is passed around a 53 may also be energized through the switch 21.

In the case of all circuits energized through switch 21, the manner of connection is obvious,

and hastherefore been omitted in order to simv pliiy the drawing'as much impossible. H

The magnetic type recorder includes a suitable recording. head 85 having a winding one terminal of which grounded" and thecother of which is I connected by a wire to "the'ilower fixedcontact of switch '55. A pickup. device 61. has 'a winding one terminal. of which is connected by where to the upper fixed contactof switch 52; A magnetic wipeoutdevice '68 has a winding connected by'oneterminal of a suitable' grounded current source and'by the other through a wireto the fixed contactoi switch 69-. -'I'hese"various parts of the magnetic type recorder are all well known in art and illustrated. s e A solenoid 10 has oneiterminal connected to a suitable grounded current source and the other terminal connected by a wire'to' the lower fixed contact of switch 25. Alongitudinally.recipro-' are thus only diagrammatically cable plunger 1i cooperateslwith the solenoid 10 and has pivotally mounted on its upper end a small bell crank' lever 12 mounted as shownjso that upon upwardmovement of theplunger 1i when the solenoid 10 is energized the bell crank 12 may .pivot. and .pass a movable contact of switch 13 without closing the switch. When the plunger returns to-normal position switch 13 is momentarily closed. The fixed contact of this switch is connected to a suitable source of alternating current 14, energized from a suitable grounded current source. This contact is also I connected by a wire 18 to the movable contact of switch 11, forming part of a locking relay 20. The fixed contact of this switch is connected by l wire 1.5 to the movable contact of switch 13 and and is connected by a wire to a'magnet 8| positicned above the lever 31 so as'to raise it when energized. The other terminalv of magnet 8i,

as in the case of magnet 40, is connected to a suitable grounded current source. For thesake extending radially of the record 43, but in the actual machine, as shown in the above mentioned patent, this lever will extend tangentially. Likewise the axis of rotation of the driving roller 42 of rotation of the idler roller 4|.

Figure 2 needs little further reference in dey The correction marking device 59 shown in Figure 2 consists of a solenoid I having an axially slidable plunger lfll with a magnetizable armature I02 at its upper end. On its lowerend is pivotally mounted a, member I03 having a plurality of radial prongs, as shown, of a thicksolenoid I00 is energized, armature it: is attracted and the vertical prong ispressed against the record.* Since the record" is revolving the pivoted member Hi3 revolves with it, so that-the record is successively engaged by the sharpened prongsand as many short impressions are made on the record transversely of the sound grooves as there are prongs". that the magnet lllli remainsgenergized until the full movement of the member: 103 is accomplished." 'Should the magnet illil remain energized beyond this"; point, the terminal- "prong simply drags: on "top of the record without i it, and ass soon-f as the magnet-ig'deenergizeda spring,1notshown;-:

raises the. jplungera. whereuponithe spring i (it snap the member: I 03 back to original position; The short; radial impressions -.on the record overlap. several; record grooves so? that during 1 transcriptionthe stylus =iofthe;. repro ducing head will engage; them severa-l grooves in advance-oi the point where the correction is to. be made...- To notify the transcribingoperator ofthe immi nence of a; correction; wthe stylus "of the' repro ducing head successively engaging these -impresf sions causes aiclickin'g, sound in thetranscribers receiver suillcientto attract attention without seriously, affecting the intelligibility of; t the *re- -corded matter.

closed on their upper contacts and switch 69 is open. Switch 3 is in the positionshownandthe switches of the various relaysare open as shown. The dictators station maybe as remote as desired from the central station at which is placed the recording vequipment under the be greater than the number of lines and recordnumber of remote distating stations, or by. as-

signing one line to a plurality of remote stations the number of connected dictator stations may ing machines. The person desiring to dictate ness as desired, as for example of a thirty-second v normally held in the position shown. One tooth is vertical over the record when'the parts are in inactive position. When the circuit to the by switch 3 closes. The-dictator then momentarily closes switch 8 sending a cycle alternating current through the two halves of choke 1 from its center point, lines 4 and 5, and the two halves of the primary of transformer 6 to wire l4 through condenser IS, the winding of relay i6, and back through the ground. Thereupon switch i1 closes completing a circuit through the connected portion of switch l8, wire i9, relay-20, and to ground through the current source 2!, as well as through the signal lamp 22 in parallel. At this time, of course, .relay 33 does not operate. I

The energization of relay 20 causes switches 2.3 and "to close, whereupon relay 20 is locked up through a holding circuit including switch 23, wire 24 and switch 25. The closing of switch 11 connectstone generator." to the recorder to impress a note or tone on the tape 63. It may be noted that in one type of operation, but not.

the preferred, the drive motor for the magnetic temporary recorder can run continuously so that the wire 63 is always in-motion.

preferred operation the motor for the magnetic recorder will be set in motion by the supervising In the operator at the central station upon suitable signal to .him, as wlllnow be described.

drive motor for the magnetic temporary recorder 60 will be energized by the closing of the switch 21, and as the tone generator 14 remains connected through switch 11, the magnetic tape will be started up to record the tone on it.

The operation of switch l8 also partially completes a circuit from switch l1 (normally open at this time) through wire 28, switch 28, and marking or spacing relay 36 so that record 43 may be shifted a short distance radially in preparation for the beginning of new dictation. To

complete this circuit in case such spacing is de: sired the dictator need only energize relay l6, by momentarily closing switch 8, to cause switch "to close. The stylus of the recording head 56 will scratch a radial Ii'n'e'across this space but this is not detrimental. By the time everynal lamp 22 is extinguished at the time the,

lockup relay 20 is deenergized. Switch l1 of relay I6is, of course, open.,

At this time the main and temporary recording machines are in operation and all sounds impressed upon the microphone of the hand set I are recorded on each. At any time thing is in operation, including the warming up of the amplifier 53, the recorded note on the magnetic wire 63 will have gotten around to the pickup device 61, sending a signal through wire 66, upper contact of switch 52, and wire 48 to the input of the amplifier '53. From the input of the amplifier this signal passes through wire 54, the upper contact of switch 55, wire 51, wire 5|, transformer 6, to the receiver of the hand set I, notifying the dictator that the system is ready for recording.

To begin dictation the dictator momentarily closes switch l2, sending direct current over the lines 4 and 5 to relay 33. This closes switch 35 and completes a circuit through wire 36 to lever 31, contact 38, andmagnet 40. Lever 31 is pulled downwardly causing the idler roller 4| to frictionally engage the record 43 with the power driven roller 42. With the record gripped as described, it will be caused to revolve, and it in turn rotates spindle 44 and the worm mounted thereon, so that threaded shaft 46 is caused to rotate. The rotation of shaft 46 causes it to progress slowly in an axial direction, moving the carriage 45 and the record 43 mounted thereon away from the stylus of the recording,

head 56. Thus the stylus impresses a spiral record on the record tablet gradually increasing in diameter, that is, recording begins near the center of the record tablet and finishes near the periphery. This is all disclosed in the abovementioned patent.

The downward movement of lever 31 has carried the switch operator 49 with it, closing the movable contact of switch on its lower fixed contact, and completing a circuit from the output of the amplifier 53 to the recording head 56 in an obvious manner. Likewise the movable contact of switch 52 has completed the input circuit of the amplifier from the secondary of the transformer 6 and broken the circuit to the pickup device 61 of the temporary recorder.-

Switch 29 has broken the circuit to the spacing device 3t) and connected the correction netic wipe-out device 68. The movable contact during recording the dictator may energize the correction marking device 58 to make correction indication marks on the record 43 by 'momentarily closing switch l8.

Theolosing of switch 8 merely energizes, as before, the A. C. relay l6. In this case, however, the closing of switch ll of the relay completes a circuit through wire 28, the lower contact of switch 29, and wire 58, to the correction marking device 59. It will be noted that this marking device is operable while the permanent rec.- ord 43 is in motion. It is likewise apparent that the spacing marking device 38 may not be operated at this time because its circuit is broken at switch 23.

It will be noted that the output of amplifier 53 --is also impressed upon the recording device 65 of'the tape machine through wire 64 so that everything recorded on the permanent record is also being recorded on the temporary record. However the magnetic wire 63 is of rather limited capacity so that as the wire 63 moves into the wipe-out device 68 all the recorded matter is neutralized or wiped off the wire at a point just before it again reaches the recording device 65. At anytime during dictation the dictator" may stop the main recording machine by again momentarily closing switch l2 which, as before, energizes relay 33. The closing of its switch 35 in this case, however, completes a circuit through wire 36, lever 31, lower contact 80; and magnet 8|, to raise the lever 31 and shift the switches connected to the operator 49. The raising of idler roller 40 removes the pressure on the record 43 and the permanent recording machine stops immediately.

The circuit to solenoid 10 is broken and plunger 1| descends so that the bell crank 12 momentarily closes switch 13 to impress' a tone signal, as before, on the magnetic wire 63 through wires 15 and 16 (switch 11 is open). Switch 69 opens so that the wipe-out device is deenergized, The spacingmarking device is put back in circuit at I switch 29 but the entire circuit is not completed because switch I1 is open. Correction marking device 69 is now out of circuit.' Pick-up device 61 is connected at switch 52 to the input of amplifier 53. Recorder 56 is taken out of circuit but the output of the amplifier 53 is connected to the transformer 6. Pickup device 61 being in circuit, the matter recorded on the wire 63 is fed through wire 66, switch 52, wire 48, through porary recording machine.

the amplifier 53, from the amplifier through wire 54, switch 55, wire 51 and wire 5| to transformer 6. It is passed through the transformer to the receiver of the hand set I, wherethe dictator will hear it.

The dictator hears the terminal portion of the matter previously dictated for a period of the desired length, within the capacity of the tem- The pickup device 61 may be positioned along the wire 63 and the further to the left it is positioned the greater the amount of the previously dictated matter will be a a,ssc,1o-r repeated mum Thus this mechanism-- I gives a dictator a chance to listenback into his dictation-inthe event that he wishesto check" its accuracy, pick up his thread of thought; or find a point where'an insertion or correction is to be made. The-note recorded on the wire 63 is at the ,tailend o! the recording so that when the dictatorhearsthat note h'e-is apprised of the pointwhere he stopped-recording on the main machine. This is a useful feature of the invention because the wipe-out device is not in operation for several reasons, as for example because it is preferable not to eliminate the matter recorded on the wire at this timein'the event'that-the dictator needs repetition thereof. Upon hearing the note recorded on the wire 63, or before if the dictator desires, he may again momentarily close switch I2 which will start the main recording machine and complete all circuits as previously described. At the end of his dictation the dictator will momentarily close switch 7 l2 and he may then close switch 8 to op-i.

erate the space marking device 30 to space the previously recorded matter, as for. example a letter, from .the matter about to be recorded, giving a visible indication to the transcriber of the end of the various separate matters dictated.

- operated'at the same timefor recording a noteremote dictator station, a line'connecting the dictator station with the central station, a supervisors signal at the central station, means for energizing thesupervisors signal from the dictators-station, means at the central station for setting the auxiliary machine in operation, means on the auxiliary recording machine, means operated from the auxiliary recording machine oversaid'Jine to signal the dictator through his re-" ceiver that the main recording machine is ready for operation, and means at the dictator station a for starting and stopping the main recording recording machine, a microphone receiver .at a

'When he has completed all his dictation he replaces the hand set on the hook, opening switch 3 and disconnecting his station from the line so that it will be available to any other dictator connectable to the line. The system disclosed provides no direct method of signalling the supervising operator that the dictator is now through. With the system as disclosed the supervising operator, noticing that the main machine is idle for a period of time, may then operate switch l8 back to the position shown. -It is, of course, apparent that it would-be very simple to provide some-form of additional signal to 'notify the supervisor that the dictator is through, but

- no eflorthas been made to include such a feature in this disclosure.

- From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject matter of. this invention is capable of embodiment in other physical forms, particularly by variation in the details in the circuits and circuit connecstation having a main and an auxiliary sound recording machine, a microphone'lreceiv'er at a remote dictator station, a line and circuits con-' necting the dictator station with the central station so that both machines simultaneously record all signals impressedupon the microphone, a supervisor's signal at the central station, means for energizing the supervisors signal from the dictators station, meansat the central station for setting the auxiliary machine in operation, means operated at the same time I for recording a note on 'th'eauxiliary recording machine, and means operated from the auxiliary recording machine over said line to signal the dictator through his receiver that the main recording machine is ready for operation.

2. In a dictation recording system, a central machine at will.

I 3. In a dictation recording system, acentral station having a main and an auxiliary sound remote dictator station, a line'connecting the dictator station with the central station, a supervisors signal at the central station, means for energizing the supervisors signal from the dictators station, means at the central station for setting the auxiliary machine in operation, means operated at the same time for recording a note on the auxiliary recording machine, means opermm from the auxiliary recording machine over said line to signal the-dictator through his receiver that the main recording machine is ready for operation, and means at the dictator station for starting and stopping the main recording machine at will, said auxiliary machine running continuously whereby exerything recorded on the main machine is recorded on the auxiliary machine. v

' 4. In a dictation recording system, a central station having at least one main sound recording machine including ,a sound recording head, i

an associated auxiliary recording machine having a recording head and a reproducing head, a'remote dictators receiver microphone station,

' a line connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisors signal at the central station, means operable at the dictators .stationoversaid line for energizing said supervisors signal, means at the central station :for preparing the main recording machine for operation and. for setting the auxiliary recording machine in'operation, means for impressing a signal'on the :recording head of the auxiliary recording machine to record the signal thereon,

and means for connecting the pickup head of the ,auxiliary recording machine with said'line to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate that the main recording machine is ready to receive dictation.

5. In a'dictation recording system, a central station havingat least one main sound recording machine including asound recording head, an associated auxiliary recording machine having a recording head and a reproducing head, a remote dictators receiver microphonestation, a line connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisor's signal at the-central station, means operable at the dictators station over said line for energizing said supervisors signal, means at the central station for preparing the main recording machine for operation and for setting the auxiliary recording station'having a main-and an auxiliary sound recording machine, a microphone receiver at a,

machine in operation,'means for impressing a signal on the recording head. of the auxiliary recording machine to record the signal thereon, means for connecting the pickup headof the auxiliary recording" machine with said line to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate. that the main recording machine is ready to receive dictation, and means at the dictators station for starting and stopping the main recording machine.

6 In a dictation recording. system, a central station having at least one main sound recording machine including a sound recording head, an associated auxiliary recording machine having a recording head and a reproducing head, a remote dictators receiver microphone station, a line' connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisor's signal at the central station, means operable at the dictators station over said line for energizing said supervisor's signal, means at the central station for preparing the main recording machine for operation and for setting the auxiliary recording machine in operation, means for impressing a signal on the recording head of the auxiliary recording machineto record the signal thereon, means for connecting the pickup head oi. the auxiliary recording machine with said line to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate that the main recordingmachine is ready to receive dictation, and means at the dictators station for starting and stopping the main recording machine, said auxiliary recording machine running continuously and continuously recording all sounds recorded on the main re cording machine.

7; In a dictation recording system, a central station having at least one main sound recording machine including a sound recording head, an associated auxiliary recording machine having a recording head and. a reproducing head, a remote dictators receiver microphone station, a line connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisors signal at the central station, means operable at the dictators station over said line for energizing said supervisor's signal, means at the central station for preparing the main recording machine for operation and for setting the auxiliary recording machine in operation, means for impressing a signal on the recording head of the auxiliary re-' cording machine to record the signal thereon, means for connecting the pickup head of the auxiliary recording machine with said line to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate that the main recording machine is ready to receive dictation, means at the dictators station for starting and stopping the main recording machine, said auxiliary recordconnecting the pickup head of the auxiliary recording machine with said 'line' to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate that the main recording machine is ready to receive dictation, means at the dictators station for starting and stopping the main recording machine, said auxiliary recording machine running continuously and continuously recording all sounds'recorded on the main recording machine, and means for recording a signal on the auxiliary recording machine each time the main recording machine is stopped.

9. In a dictation recording system, a central station having at least one main sound recording machineincluding a sound recording head, an associated auxiliary recording machine having a recording head and a reproducing head, a remote dictators receiver microphone station, a line connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisor's signal at the central station, ,means operable at the dictators station over said line for energizing said supervisors signal, means at the central station for preparing the main recording machine for operation and for setting the auxiliary recording machine in operation, means for impressing a mg machine running continuously and continuously recording all sounds recorded on the main recording machine, and means operable each time the main recording machine isstopped for connecting the pickup head or the auxiliary recording machine with said line whereby the dictator receivers back a terminal portion of the matter recorded.

connecting the dictators station with the central station, a supervisors signal at the central station, means operable at the dictators station over said line for energizing said supervisor's signal, means at the central station for preparing the main recording machine for operation and for setting the auxiliary recording machine in operation, means for impressing a signal on the recording head of the auxiliary recording signal on the recording head of the auxiliary recording machine to record the signal thereon, means for connecting the pickup head or the auxiliary recording machine with said line to transmit the said signal to the dictators machine to indicate that the main recording machine is ready to receive dictation, means at the dictators station mr starting and stopping the main recording machine, said auxiliary recording machine running continuously and continuously recording all sounds recorded on the main recording machine, means for recording a signal on the auxiliary recording machine each time the main recording machine is stopped, and means for connecting the pickup head or the auxiliary machine to said line each time the main recording machine is stopped whereby a terminal portion of the previously recorded matter is heard at the dictatorsstation, terminated by the signal recorded on the auxiliary recording machine at the time the stopped.

10.'In a dictation recording system, a main sound-recording machine, a recording head for said machine, means for causing relative circumferential and radial movement between a record tablet in said machine and said recording head, means for causing relative radial movement only and in a forward direction between a record in said machine and said recording head, a dic-' tators station'having a microphone and a receiver, a line connecting the dictators station with said machine, and control devices at the dictators station connected to said line, the operation of one of said control devices energizing I said means to cause relative circumferential and radial movement, and the operation of the other of said control devices energizing said means to cause relative radial movement forwardly.

11. In a dictation recording system, a main sound recording machine, a recording head for said machine, means for causing relative con- Joint circumferential and radial movement between a record tablet in said machine and said recording head, means for causing relative forward radial movement only between a record in; said machine and said recording head, a dictators station having a microphone and a main recording machine is receiver, a line connectingthe dictators stationwith said machine, and control devices at the dictators station connected to said line, the operation of one of said control devices energizing said means to cause relative conjoint circumferential and radial movement. and the operation of the otheroi said control devices energizing said means to cause relative iorwardiradial movement only, when said means for causing relative circumferential movement is deenergized.

12. In a sound recording system of the type described, a record tablet support, a recording head for recording sounds on a record table when mounted on said support, means for causing relative circumferential movement of the record tablet with respect-to said head, means for causing relative radial movement or said record tablet with respect to said head, means for impressing correction markings on said record tablet, a dictators station having a microphone, a'line for connecting the microphone tosaid recording head, and a pair of control devices at the dietatorfs station connected to said line, the operation of the first of said control devices causing 16. In a sound recording system, a pair or remote dictators station and connected to said other machine for starting and stopping it,

- means Ior. supplying signals to be recorded from the energization and deenergization of said said remote station to both of said machines simultaneously, manual means at said remote station for-signalling at said machines the desire of a dictator to use them, means at said machines ior preparing them for operation, means ..controlled.by said manual means for applying correction marks to the record of said other machine, and means controlled as an'incident to the starting and stopping of said other machine for causing reproduction of the record from said continuously operating machine.

17. In a .sound recording system, a pair of sound recording machines, means for causing one of said recording machines to operate continuously whensaid system is in use, means at a.

simultaneously, manual means at said remote station for signalling at said machines the desire 01' a dictator to use them, means at said machines for preparing them for operation, means controlled by said manual means for applying correction marks to the record of said other machine, means controlled as an incident to the starting and stopping of said other machines for causing reproduction of the record from said continuously operating machine, and means conand stopping one of said machines, means for causing the other of said machines to operate continuously when the systemis in use, means for simultaneously recording the same signals on both of said machines, means for reproducing the recorded signals from the continuously operating machine whenever said starting and stopping means is operated to stop said other machine, and means for applying a location signal to said continuously operating machine whenever said starting and stopping means is oper; ated to stop said other machine.

14. In a sound recording system, a pair of sound recording machines, means for causing one of said recording machines to operate continuously when said system is in use, means at a remote dictators station and connected to said.

other machine for starting and stopping it, means for supplying signals to be recorded from said remote station to both of said machinesf simultaneously, and means including a manual control at said remote station for signalling at said machines the desire of a'dictator to use them a '15. In a sound recording. system, a pair of sound recording machines, means for causing one .of said recording machines to operate continuously when said systemis in use, means at a remotedictatorsstation and connected to said other machine for starting and stopping it, means for supplying signals to be recorded from said remote station to both of said machines simultaneously, manual means at. said remote' ditioned by said last means whereby said manual means maybe actuated to cause a desired spacing between recordings on the record of said other machine.

18. In a sound recording system, a main recording -machine for producing a permanent sound record, acontinuously running auxiliary machine for temporarily recording the same machine at said dictators station whenever said main machine is stopped, and means controlled .from the dictators station for applying correcstarting and stopping said main machine, means controlled by said last means for causing the reproduction of the record from said auxiliary machine at said dictators station whenever said main machine is stopped, means controlled from the dictators station for applying correction marks to said permanent record when desired,

20.'In-a sound recording machine having a record which is in motion during the recording,

v said record to apply spaced radial marks thereon.

21. In a marking device of the type described for a sound recording machine employing a record tablet, a member mounted over the record tablet for vertical reciprocation, a pron ged marking device pivotally mounted on said member, means for resiliently holding said pronged marking device in normal position, and means for moving said member so that the marking device engages the record whereby the motion of the record causes the prongs to successively impress radial grooves therein spaced circumierentially.

22. In a dictation recording and reproducing system, a main sound recording and reproducing machine, an auxiliary sound recording and reproducing machine, a dictators receiver and microphone, circuits connecting said receiver and microphone with said recording machines, a dictators switch, a tone signal generator, relay means and circuits controlled by said dictators switch for connecting said signal generator to said auxiliary machine, a supervisor's switch,

forward spacing means for said main machine,

control of said spacing means, whereby the tone signal is recorded on and then repeated by the auxiliary machine to energize said receiver, and

said dictators switch upon operation energizes said spacing means.

. 23. The combination of claim 22 characterized 7 in that said dictators switch is connected to said 24, In a dictation recording and reproducing I system, a main sound recording and r eproduc-.

switch for connecting said signal generator to 10 said auxiliary machine, a supervisor's switch,

forward spacing means for said main machine, and means controlled by said supervisor's switch for placing said dictators switch in control of said spacing means, whereby the tone signal generator is connected to said auxiliary machine and said dictators switch upon operation energizes said spacing means. I

25. The combination of claim 24 characterized in that the dictators switch is connected to said line.

26. In a sound recording system, a pair of sound recording machines, means for causing one of said recording machines to operate continuously when said system is in use, means at a 25 remote dictators station. and connected to said other machine for starting and stopping it, means for supplying signals to be recorded from said remote station to both of said machines simultaneously, means including a manual control at said remote station for signalling at said ing means.

HENRY PETE CLAUSEN. 

